The volunteer committee of Women & Money was formed in 2014 to explore the issues and opportunities facing Edmonton women and how Edmonton can become a municipal leader in gender equity.

“We want Women & Money to be accessible, fun and informative,” says Councillor Esslinger, in a release. “I hope this is just the beginning of a national movement to financially empower women from across the country.”

Women & Money will hold its first event on Feb. 7, 2017 at MacEwan University. Details are available at wamcan.ca, Facebook and Instagram at @womenandmoneyyeg.

The campaign is part of the United Nations 16 Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence initiative.

“The United Nations has called violence against women a global pandemic. Today [Nov. 25] and every day, we commit to helping end it, for our daughters, sisters, mothers and all women—in Alberta and across the world,” says McLean in a release.

Starting on Nov. 25 and lasting 16 days, Status of Women will share actions on social media to empower Albertans. Participants can also share their own actions using the hashtag #16Days.

On Dec. 6,McLean will host a public vigil on the north steps of the Legislature at noon, to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Canadians pause on that day to remember the tragic loss of 14 women during the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre, and all women who have lost their lives to violence.

The Government of Alberta has also supported initiatives to increase women’s safety, including increasing funds for women’s shelters, adding gender identity/expression to the Alberta Human Rights Act, passing an amendment of the Residential Tenancies Act that allows survivors to leave domestic abuse without penalties for breaking their leases, and joining the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Counterfeit money

The Edmonton Police Service is warning the public about counterfeit money.

After receiving numerous complaints about counterfeit money, the EPS launched several investigations which turned up many $100 bills with the same serial number, numerous identity documents, debit and a credit card reader, an ID maker, scanners, printers, and other supplies relating to counterfeiting at various location.

“We believe there are still numerous counterfeit bills in circulation in the Edmonton area,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Abbott in a release. “If anyone comes across some suspicious money, they are asked to contact police.”

In a release, the government states that it has received well over 1,000 complaints about energy-related, door-to-door sales. Many are from seniors and families who felt duped into buying furnaces or water heaters on the spot. In other instances, consumers felt aggressive pressure to sign energy contracts with salespeople visiting their home two or three times in one day.

“The RCMP welcomes this change. Our investigators have helped Albertans who have succumbed to fraudulent, high-pressure sales at their door. Real financial and emotional harm is often the result from these tactics, particularly among vulnerable persons in our communities. With this ban, we expect to see a noticeable decline in criminal incidents of unscrupulous, door-to-to-door sales of energy products,” says RCMP Superintendent Guy Rook in the release.